Constantine, White Pigeon set to renew Tomahawk game

With a definite line in the sand between Constantine and White Pigeon, the rivalry runs deep.

The inaugural matchup on the gridiron took place in 1924 with the Chiefs earning a 2-0 victory in the first of 86 meeting between the two schools.

But, in 2007 with conference realignment beginning and the schools going in opposite directions, the annual contest stopped. As part of the White Pigeon Days, the rivals will meet again on the football field with kickoff slated for 6:30 p.m. Saturday.

It will be their first meeting since that 2007 season, when Constantine picked up a 35-26 win, which was the Falcons’ 17 consecutive win over White Pigeon.

“It’s good to be back around these guys again,” Tim Baker, former Falcon head coach and Saturday’s alumni head coach said. “This brings back a lot of memories of when these guys were playing and I think these guys are just excited to play football again.”

White Pigeon will be coached by current varsity head coach Joe Morsaw. He said the former Chief players are excited to get back on the field.

“I think on both sides the player interest is there and I think right now we’re just spreading the word and people are nudging each other and trying to decide who all wants to come out,” Morsaw said. “But the guys that are already out here are excited to play.”

Baker said the Falcons are looking at anywhere between 28-35 guys to be on the field Saturday night. Morsaw said White Pigeon is currently around 22 guys but they are hopeful to have around 30 by game time as well.

Gabe Macias, 2001 graduate of White Pigeon, will be their quarterback. Morsaw said during his time as the leader of the Chiefs the school ran more of an I-formation. That could be what the Chiefs run again in this game.

Brian Stears, a Sergeant for the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department, is one of Baker’s favorites that will be playing in the event.

“Brian, who graduated in ‘93, he came out yesterday and still ran a 4.9 40-yard dash,” Baker said with a laugh, mentioning that Stears still competes at a high level in Olympic-style races. Stears won three gold medals and two silver medals at the U.S. Police and Fire Championships in 2013.

And while there might be a rivalry between the schools and players, both coaches said they didn’t expect any bad blood during the game.

Baker said although there is a rivalry, Constantine is just looking to come out and have a good time on Saturday night.

“It doesn’t really matter who the game is against, but it happens to be White Pigeon and a lot of these guys know each other,” Baker said, downplaying the possible bad blood. “Our goal is to not get anybody hurt, that’s the absolute goal. And we’ll let these guys have some fun, too. In the end we’re raising money for both programs and that’s a great thing. Both schools will benefit from that and we’re looking forward to it.”

Constantine holds the all-time series advantage 47-34. The two schools have played to five ties — in 1927, 1931 and 1936 the games all ended with a 0-0 score. In 1947 the teams played to a 6-6 stalemate while 1958 saw a 13-13 contest.

The tradition of the Tomahawk began back in 1929. An Indian arrowhead was discovered on farmland between the two villages and it was decided that a handle be added to it. This created the “trophy” the two schools played for in 79 annual contests.

“Some of these guys have never lost to Constantine and some have never won or even played against them,” Morsaw said, noting there will be players from after the 2007 season playing. “We’ll see what happens, but I know there are some guys talking back and forth at work and things like that and giving each other a hard time. It’s going to be a good game no matter what.”

The game was originally played on Thanksgiving Day until the late 1940s and was moved to Veteran’s Day at one point as well.

Then, in 1952 when the St. Joseph Valley started, it became an annual conference clash.

Both teams will practice all week long in preparation for the contest on Saturday night. White Pigeon’s players will be walking in the parade through town on Friday night as well.

Morsaw said it was always the plan to have the game played during White Pigeon Days.

“We did that on purpose, last year in Centreville we played them as part of their (Covered) Bridge Days,” Morsaw said. “I have had some fun working with the alumni and a lot of these guys are the same age as me. Football is a universal thing and a lot of these guys are just here to have fun.”

Constantine hasn’t played in an “alumni” game since the 1980s, Kyle Rimer said. Rimer is a 2003 graduate from Constantine.

He is doing a lot of behind the scenes work for the event and provided the Sturgis Journal with a lot of information for the upcoming game.

He said Constantine was hesitant to take part in one of the alumni contests, but did note the games themselves have grown in popularity during the past few years. But when they had the opportunity to play White Pigeon again, Constantine has no problem taking the field.

Baker said a lot of the credit for the game should go to Rimer and Jerry Burgess, who have helped put everything into motion.

“Those guys have done a lot of work,” Baker said.

Both teams have been known in the past to keep the football on the ground.

Constantine, especially, is known for their patented Wing-T offense, which features several players coming out of the backfield and obviously only one carrying the football.

But Baker said on Saturday they might open things up.

“We’ll have a few trick plays,” he said with a laugh.

Tickets for the event are $10 each, but children ages 6 and under are admitted free.

The money being raised during the event will be used for both the Constantine and White Pigeon football programs.

Those that purchase pre-sale tickets in the town of their favorite team will see that money go to their respective school.

Tickets purchased the day of the game will be put into a combined fund for both communities to split.

Buy pre-sale tickets from Morsaw of White Pigeon at (269) 599-2986 and Jerry Burgess of Constantine at (574) 370-2465.

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